Cameo cutting, a skill perfected in ancient Greece and Rome, was practiced by a few medieval artists. This cameo tells the story of Noah's Ark and the modelling of the figures shows an awareness of classical forms. The cameo was probably made in Sicily at the court of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II (reigned 11988-1250). It later passed into the hands of Lorenze de' Medici (died 1492) who had the doors of the ark engraved with his name. About 1200-1250 Sicily or southern Italy Onyx and Gold (PE 1890.0901.15)
aperture=f3.2 focal length: 60.0 mm exposure 1/100 sec ISO: 3200